Trombone



J. F. BURKE Feb. 16, 1937.

' TROMBONE Filed May 1, 1936 lnvenToT. Uoseph FBurKe Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to trombones and particularly to means for lubricating the portions of the inner tubes which telescope within the limbs of the shoe or slide.

In using a trombone it is desirable to keep these portions of the inner tubes thoroughly lubricated, because if there is insufiicient lubrication the proper manipulation of the shoe portion of the trombone is interfered with which makes it difficult for the musician to play the notes accurately.

The usual way of lubricating the portions of the inner tubes of the trombone which telescope within the shoe is for the musician to deposit oil on such portions from an oil can, but it is not always easy or convenient to do this during the rendition of an orchestral composition. In the case of a trombone player in a band which is playing outdoors or while marching there is often necessity for frequently lubricating the trombone and this cannot be conveniently attended to while the trombone player is marching with the band.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide an improvement. in trombones by which the desired lubrication of the inner tubes may be accomplished by a movement of the slide.

In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated in the drawing a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a trombone showing parts in section and illustrating one construction embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22, Fig. 1.

Inasmuch as the invention relates merely to the lubrication of the portions of the inner tubes which telescope within the shoe or outer slide, I have not thought it necessary to illustrate herein a complete trombone. In the drawing I and 2 indicate the two inner tubes of a trombone which communicate with the mouthpiece and the bell respectively, neither of which are herein illustrated. The inner tube I may be that which communicates with the mouthpiece and the inner tube 2 that which leads to the usual bell.

The usual shoe portion or outer slide of the trombone is indicated at 3, this having the usual U-shaped construction and having the two tubular legs 4 and 5 which telescope over the portions 6 and l of the inner tubes. The legs 4 and 5 of the shoe are connect-ed by the usual brace or handle portion 8 by which the shoe is moved back and forth on the inner tubes and the two inner tubes I and 2 are also connected by a brace or handle member 9 as usual in trombones. In the present invention each inner tube l and 2 has an oil reservoir associated therewith, and means are provided by which oil from each reservoir may be deposited automatically on the portion of the corresponding inner tube which needs lubrication by the movement of the shoe or outer slide 3.

The inner tube l is formed with a casing or jacket l0 surrounding it which forms between it and said tube an oil reservoir l I. A similar jacket or casing l2 surrounds the inner tube 2 and forms therewith an oil reservoir IS. The handle or brace 9 is shown as tubular in form and it connects the two casings l0 and I2, the interior of the handle 9 communicating with each oil reservoir. The handle is shown as having a filling opening l4 into which oil may be introduced into the reservoirs and a removable closure plug 15 is provided for closing the filling opening l4.

Each oil reservoir is equipped with a valve through which oil is deposited onto the portion of the corresponding inner tube which needs lubrication. As herein shown the end l6 of each reservoir is provided with a port ll adjacent the inner tube and situated within each reservoir is a spring-pressed valve disk I8 having a tapered projection H! which extends through the port l1.

Each valve disk I8 is acted on by a spring 20 which encircles the inner tube within the oil reservoir and which normally holds the valve seated. When each valve disk [8 is resting against the end l6 of the oil reservoir the tapered projection I9 of the valve disk will fill and entirely close the port l1, thus preventing any leakage of oil. This is the normal condition.

If, however, either valve I8 is raised so as to partially withdraw the projection I9 from the port I! then oil may seep out of the port I! onto the adjacent portion of the inner tube, thereby providing the desirable lubrication. The opening of the valves may be accomplished by the movement of the shoe or outer slide, for by moving the shoe toward the reservoirs the ends 2| of the legs 4 and 5 will be brought into engagement with the projections l9, thereby raising the valves so that oil may flow through the valves onto the inner tubes, thereby providing the necessary lubrication.

It will be observed that this operation of opening the valves can be accomplished simply by a movement of the shoe and such movement can be quickly given even when the trombone is being played. Hence, if a trombone player finds that his trombone needs lubrication while he is using it in either a band or an orchestra. he can quickly supply the necessary lubrication without interfering with his playing. While I have illustrated a selected embodiment of the invention, yet I do not wish to be limited to the constructional features shown.

I claim.

1. A trombone having inner tube portions communicating with the bell and mouthpiece respectively, a shoe portion having tubular legs telescoping over the inner tubes, an oil reservoir associated with each inner tube, and means actuated by the shoe for delivering oil from the reservoir onto the corresponding inner tube.

2. A trombone having inner tubes communieating with the bell and mouthpiece respectively, a shoe portion telescoping over the inner tubes, an oil reservoir associated with each inner tube, each reservoir having a port, a valve normally closing each port, and means to open said valves by movement of the shoe.

3. A trombone having the inner tubes communicating with the bell and mouthpiece respectively, a shoe portion telescoping over said inner tubes, an oil reservoir associated with each inner tube, said reservoir being connected by a tubular brace member having a filling opening, a closure plug for said filling opening, each reservoir having a port, a valve closing each port, and. means for opening said valve by movement of the shoe.

JOSEPH F. BURKE. 

